Method and apparatus for bottling



Nov. 20, 19218. 1,692,471

P. w. SHIELDS ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BOTTLING Filed nec. 5, 1923A s sheets-sheet 1 l 17a, Cda Fyl 5 Il a 1 30" 50\ sym/P fwfssu/PE l PUMP CHI/755i? i 36 f-E.- m Sym/P J7 SUPP/.K L

RECEIVE/P I @MJ/W. ymi@ Nov.l 20, 1928.

P. W. SHIELDS ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BOTTLING Filed Dec. 5, 192s s sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 20,' 1928.

1,692,471 P. w sHlELns ET AL 1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BOTTLING A 3 Sheets-Sheet vFiled Dec. 5, 1923 Patented Nov. 20, Y1928.

UNITED STATES PATRICK W. smELDs AND WALTER Ji. nLnNKo, on rirrrseunorr., sinnersarrivarmi;A AssIGNons To MCKENNA BnAss AND MANUFACTURING coMrANY,iNoonPoRATED,.

PATENT OFFICE,

OF. PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATON lGF PEQ'NSYLVANIA. l

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IBO[TI.|IIT(`r.v

Application led December 5, 1923.y Serial No 678,588..

plied theretowith the interiorof -the bottle at atmospheric pressure when the fillingop-v eration commences, there 1s a strong tendency,due to the release in pressure on theY carbonated liquid, for thecarbon dioxide to go out of solution. This results in an inferior product and incomplete control of the filling operation. l This difficulty can beenn tirely overcome if an initial counterpressure is placed in the bottle, asthe liquid is then held under such pressure during the filling, thereby holding the carbon dioxide gas in solution, and enabling a higher degree of carbonation in the bottled goods to be ob` tained. y 1' In accordance with the'present invention, there is provided a counterpressure filling machinewherein a bott-1e is placed in operative relation with a filling'head, sealed from outside. conditions, andthe interior then put under'initial counterpressure. Also, the sealing pressure is increased from the startof the filling ope-ration, thus preventing.leakage vand consequent loss of gas and carbonated water. The sealing is preferably accomplished by a thro-at rubber which is pressed int-o sealing engagement around the neck of the bottle by pressure initially supplied yfrom the same source as the counterp'ressure, although any other source of pressure for this purpose might be utilized. This pressure may be directly exerted by the gas which puts the counterpressure in tothe bottle, but

' is preferably exerted through the medium of a liquid, sincethis is more conducive 'to a completely sealed machine having a minimum of gas'loss. There is also provided means for reclaiming not only the liquid used in sealing, but also any liquid which is left in the various passages of the filling head after the filling operation, and vdelivering suchv liquid to a succeeding bottle. This insures a dry exhaust, as nothing is given off by the machine except the air from the bottle, substantially all of the liquid being saved;V Y

and placed in a succeeding bottle.

,'The present invention, while adaptedlto general types of filling machines, is herein illustrated as applied to ak bottling kmachine structure in accordance with Shieldss Canadian PatentNo. 224,829 of October 17,1922, wherein 'there is shown ya bottling machine' having a vertically moving filling head whichy is raised or lowered through the medium'of the bottle itself, whereby such head does not operate unless abottleis' actually placed inv 'i position inthe machine.

In the accompanying drawings, whichfil`-` lustrate more or less diagrammatically .one embodiment of our invention as applied to such a machinef' Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewV showing the filling head in lits lowered `'position ready for the insertion of a bottle;

Figure 2 is a viewrof t-he same apparatus tionandshowing a subsequent step inthe yshowing a'bo-ttlevinserted in the head, the 'head being in it-s upper position, the `entire filling process wherein liquid is being directedy into the bottle; n

Figure -'fshows the apparatus with the head still in its upper position but at the final step in the lling operation previous to lowering the head with the bottle sealed and ready to remove; and f Y Figure .5 is a'view similar to'Figure l, illustrating a modifiedform of the invention.` In the illustrated embodiment of the invention thereis showna filling-head 2 having a bottle receiving opening 3 provided with a throat rubber yfor sealing the neck of an inserted bottle.r The head is further provided with a bottle ejecting plunger 5 and filling tube 6- and abottle cap-receiving opening C. ably of the character set forth in the patent above referred to,l the capping dies being indicated diagrammatieally in the present drawings.y l n The filling tube '6 has an air passage 7 com*- municating withan adjustable air chamber The capping device is preferf' is utilized a pressure chamber 17 having aV 8 above the filling head, and this in turn is provided with an outlet tube 9. As the bot-` tle is filled, air and gas within the bottle pass upwardly through the tube 7 into the cham ber 8. Also, as the filling operation nearsV 15 is also connected in the conduit 12 and serves to supply the bottle with the proper amount of flavoring matter,V as hereinafter described. lThe water inlet 11 is connected to a carbonator or other source of carbonated water under suitable pressure, and is'pro videdwith `a branch conduit 1G which leads to the bottle ejector 5 and serves to exert a downward pressure on the ejector at all times. 4 For .establishing the desired initial pressure or counterpressure in the bottle, there pressure inlet 18 provided with a pressure regulating valve 19 whereby any desired minimumpres'sure condition may be established and maintained in the chamber 17, such pressure being indicated by suitable gauge Gr. A conduit 2O extends from the bottom of the chamber to a check valve 21, the purpose of which will hereinafter be described. Connected to this conduit through a mechanically operated valve 22 is a branch conduit 23. This branch conduit is connected through a'checlr valve 25 to a conduit V241: leading to the throat rubber Il. It is also provided with a check valve 26 through which pressure in the conduit 23 may be communicated to the conduit 12. rFhe operation of the apparatus, as will be hereinafter more clearly pointed out, is preferably such that at the commencement of each filling operation there is a small amount of water in the bottom of the pressure chamber 17.

`When a bottle is inserted in the Vfilling head and raised t-he entire head is moved upwardly, and the stem 22a of the valve 22 comes into contact with a pressure foot 27 loosely pivoted on the frame 28 of the machine and normally adapted to gravitate into the positio shownin Figure 2.

Further raising of the head opens the valve 22 and the water in the bottom of the chamber 17 passes therefrom through the valve 22 into the branch conduit 23. From thisV branch 23v it passes through the check valve 25 and conduit 24 to the throat rubber, thereby sealing the bottle from outside conditions.` Any remaining water passes through the check valve 26, the conduit 12, the chamber 10 rand the filling tube 6 into the bottle. The chamber pressure is also communicated to the bottle, thus putting the entire system under pressure. During this raising of the head the syrup pump 15 is actuated soV that the bottle, now under pressure, is provided with the requisite quantity of iavoring matter and ready Ato be filled with carbonated water. The operation of the syrup pump may be so timed as to supply the flavoring matter, either before or during the time counterpressureis being established, within the bottle. With the entire system under pressure, and the head in upper position, a valve-operating'rod 29 provided with a collar SO having a presser finger 30a pivotally secured thereto vis moved downwardly. The rod 29 corresponds to the rod 1311 in the patent referred to, while the finger 30 corresponds to the lever 1411. The first portion of the downward movement from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3 effects a closing of the valve 22,V as the collar 30 contacts with the arm of the presser foot 2'? and rotates it about its pivot out of operative engagement with the valve stem 22. Further movement of the .rod 29 serves to open the water valve 13.` Y

1When the valve 13 isfopened carbonated water enters the bottle through the conduit 12 and at the same time the desired carbonator pressure is communicated tothe throat rubber through the conduit 24 and a connecting conduit 31. This additional pressure effectually seals the bottle, no matter what the transmitted carbonator pressure may be, and sealing during the filling operation is, of course, independent of the original counterpressure placed in the bottle.

As the filling operation continues, the pressure in the system builds up as the gases become more and more compressed. rlhis increase in pressure effective through the chamber 8 causes the rate of filling to sharply decrease, so that the increased pressure is of itself an excellent regulator of the quantity of water which goes into the bottle, although the .timing of the machine is also of importance. At the end of the filling operation, the filling head is maintained in its upper position while the valve 13 is closed by upward movement of the valve rod 29. The bottle is then capped while still in the head, as set forth in the above mentioned patent..

VAs the bottle is filled, the pressure is communicated through the conduit 9 to a receiver 32 whose function is to collect the excess water in the system. This receiver is provided with a pipe 33 leading to the chock f valve 21, whereby any water in the receiver is forcedupwardly through the check valve and into the chamber 17 by reason of the superior pressure in the receiver as compared with that in the chamber 17 during the filling operation. The chamber pressure is, of

cou-rse, also raised during the fill-ing operation as gases also pass by the check valve 21 into the chamber'. If? desired, a spring-closed relief valve 17 a may be placed in the chamber 17'v to control the maximum pressure therein. Such maximum pressure, however, may also be determined by controlling the bottling pressure, the minimum chamber pressure being, of course, determined by the regulating valve 19. The increasein pressure in the chamber 17 ove-r the minimuml pressure established therein may be regulated by adjusting a plunger 34 tor varying the size of the air chamber 8 or also by opening a valve 35 connecting the conduit 9 to an auxiliary chamber 36. It Will be understood that the iin-al pressure in the system is substantiallythe` pressure of the carbonator as delivered at the inlet 11, and is generally materially higher thanthe initial counterpressureplaced in thebottl'e, and further, that the regulation of the filling height maybe oletained by changing the air space above the bottle as described.

The valve rod 29 also carries a piv-otally mounted presser foot 37 adapted to cooperate with the valve stem 381 for controlling a pair ot" exhaust valves 39 and 40. When the filling head is inits lowered position, as shown in Figure 1, the presser ltoot/is held out of operative engagement with the valve stein by a trip 41 on Vthefiirame of the machine. As the head and valve rod 29 are simultaneously moved upwardly, thislfoot leaves the trip 41 but bears laterally against the side of the valve stem 38.. Thereatter,l when the rod- 29 is moved-downwardly relative to the head, the presser foot 37 is freed of' this side- Wiseengagement, and rotates cloclvvise into engagement With a stop 42. On the succeeding upward movement of the rod 29 the foot is now in proper position 'to operate the valve stem 38 to openI the exhaust. valves 39 and 4). When the head is lowered and the capped bottle ismoved, the tri-p l1 again moves the presser foot to the position shown inhigure 1, thus permitting the exhaust valves 39 and 40 tov close soy that counterpressure may be established in the succeeding bottle.

The opening of the exhaust valve 39 relieves the pressure above the filling head and reduces the pressure in the system to atmospheric, with .the exception off the counterpressure for the next bottle.' This counterpressure is sealed in the pressure chamber 1'? and the conduit 2O thereafter, thefopening of the exhaust valve 40 relieves the pressure on the throat rubber, and any Water behind the throat rubber or in the conduits 24 and 31 flows through the valve 40 and a conduit 40a into the receiver 32. i l

The head is now at atmospheric pressure and another bottle may be inserted. As the head is raised with such bottle, the valve 22 is operated as before and the lsystem is again closes and leaves the chamber 117 with put. under initial pressure from the chamber 17, While any Water the chamber' beyond the amount required by the throat rubber is discharged into the bottle. Flhe filling operation then talies place as before described, the small amount ot Water remaining in the receiver together with any which may be carried over tro n the iii-lling head. being forced into the chamber' 17 through the check valve 21, ready ier delivery to the succeeding bottle.` Y

It for any reason the pressure in the chainber 17 should fall bellen'v the desired or predetermined minin'ium which isA to be maintained therein, the regulating valve 19 automatically opens and 'admits gaseous tluid under .pressure in an amount suilicient to reestablish the requisite pressure conditions.

ln Figure 5 of the drawings there is il'- lustrated a. modiiied embodiment ot the invention, f in Which parts corresponding to parts already described are lor convenience designated by the same reference characters f as those heretofore used, but having in each` instance 1GO added thereto.

ln this form or" the invent-ion the throat rubber 10d'is connected to the counterpressure chamber 117 through a conduit 51, preferably having a liquid reservoir therein. This conduit lsprovided With a branch con'- duitf o3fleading to the chamber 108 above the filling tube 106, and also 1with a valve` ing head is moved upwardly asin the embodil mento'f Figures 1 to 4:, and the stein oli the valve 5d comes into Contact with a presser toot 56 carried onthe trame 128 ot' the ma-V chine. The opening et the valve 54? admits gaseous pressure from the chamber 117 through the conduit 51 to the t-hroatrub ber. This pressure is preferably communicated through the medium of' a liquid in the reservoir 52. rlhe pressure is also communicated to the interior off the bottle through the branch conduit 53, and the entire system is therefore under the desired couuterpressure. Atthis time the Water valve 113 is 'actuated by the presser toot 130i, in the manner already described, and the bottle is hlled with carbonated liquid.

When the filling operation Completed a. valve operating rod ai is moved down WardlAv and atrio 58 thereon enga es the tout 5G and rotates it out ot oren-.tive engagen 1 A 1 n t c ment vutn the valve 5st, whereupon this va sure therein isolated from the remainderof the lling head. After the bottle is capped the operating rod 5'? is moved downwardly a further distance and operates an exhaust valve 59 whereby the pressure above the capped bottle is released, the pressure of the throat rubber removed and the bottle free to be withdrawn from the head.

During the'fillinc operation any liquid which may pass upwardly through the passage l0? escapes through the conduit 53 into the chamber ll?, together with the gases displaced from the bottle by the liquid. Any pressure above the predetermined maximum is relieved through the valve lla. A

lf desired, the exhaust valve 59 may be dispensed with and the pressure above the capped bottle dissipated through the capping opening C. Such operation, however, is not entirely satisfactory and the valve 59 has been shown in the diagrammatic drawing of Figur 5 to represent a completely operative efllicient mechanism.

lu this modified form of the invention there is no necessity for draining ofi the water used in compressing the throat rubber, as the liquid in the reservoir 52 is used time after time, and any excess which is brought up through the passage 107 goes into the chamber and is delivered directly to the succeeding bottle. lt will be apparent that a liquid having a higher specificgravity than carbonated water may be used in the reservoir 52 if desired.

rEhe advantages of the present invention arise not only from the provision of a ma- Vchine in which a higher degree of carbonation in the bottled goods may be obtained, but from the provision of means for reclaiming both the liquid utilized for effecting the sealing operation and any surplus liquid directed to the bottle. Y

Still further advantages of the invention arise from the provision of an apparatus capable of establishing` counterpressure in the bottle and of sealing the bottle by means of fluid under pressure, such sealing preferably being effected by the saine pressure which establishes the counterpressure condition.

Further advantages arise from the provision of an apparatus of the character set forth in which a dry exhaust is obtained, thereby resulting in a clean and expeditious operation of the apparatus. Y

A still further advantage of the present invention arises from the provision of a filling apparatus with means for establishing ar counterprcssure in the bottle to be filled in combination with means for cutting olf the source of such counterpressure prior-to the actual filling operation, whereby in the event of breakage of a bottle the loss of counterpressure from such source is prevented.

TWhile we have illustrated the invention as applied to ai machine constructed generally in accordance with the Canadian patent to Shields before referred to, it will be understood that the utility of the -invention is not so limited, but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims zv le claim: `l. Vllhe method of bottling `carbonated liquids which includes placing a bottle in operative relation with a filling head, sealing the bottle from outside conditions, raising the pressure of the interior of the bottle above atp Vand thereafter directing carbonated liquid into the bottle, the sealingpressure anu tie pressure within the bottle being maintained substantially equal. i

The method of bottling carbonated liquids, which includes placing a bottle in operative relation to a source of carbonated liquid, sealing the bottle from outside conditions through the ln'ierdium of a liquid, putting initial pressure in the bottle, filling the bottle, and thereafter capping the lbottle Aand reclaiming the liquid used in sealing. y

4. The method of bottling carbonated liquids, which includes placing a bottle in operative relation with a source of carbonated liquid, sealing the bottle from outside conditions, through t-he medium of a liquid, filling the bottle with carbonated liquid, unsealing the bottle, reclaiming the liquid used in sealing, and directing the reclaimed liquid into a. succeeding bottle. .Y

5. The method of bottling carbonated liquids, which includes placing a bottle in operative relation to a source of carbonate( liquid, sealing the bottle from outside conditions through the medium of a liquid, putting initial pressure in the bottle, filling the bottle, thereafter capping the bottle and reclaiming the liquid used in sealing, and directing the reclaimed liquid into a succeeding bottle.

6. The method of bottling carbonated liquids, which includes placing a bottle in operative relation with a filling head having a liquid passage connected to a source of carbonated liquid, sealing the bottle from outside 'conditions through the medium of a liquid,

erative relation with ,a` filling head having a liquid. passage connectedy to a. source of carbonated liquid, sealing the bottles from routside conditions through the medium of a liquid, putting initial gaseous-pressure vin the bottle, filling and capping. the bottle, and exhausting back the liquid head pressure lthrough the liquid passage and reclaiming the liquid therein and the, liquid used in sealing whilereleasingat least a portion of the gases.

8. The method of bottling carbonated beverages, comprising placing the bottle in operative relation to a filling head, sealing the bottle by means of la liquid, directing the carbonated liquid to the sealed bottle, reclaiming the surplus liquid directed to the bottle, together with the liquid used in sealing, and delivering the reclaimed liquid to a succeeding bottle prior to the actual filling thereof.

9. The method of' bottling carbonated liquids, which includes sealing a bottle in a kfilling head through the medium of a liquid,

placing the. bottle underinitial pressure, directing carbonated liquid into the bottle at a pressure higher than the initial pressure, and utilizing the pressure difference to reclaim eX- cess liquid in the filling system.

10. The method of bottling carbonated liquids, which includes sealing a bottle in a filling head through the medium of a liquid, placing the bottle under initial pressure, directing carbonated liquid into the bottle at a pressure higher than the initial pressure, and utilizing the pressure diii'erence to reclaim 'eX- cess liquid in the filling system, together with the liquid used for sealing. f

11. A filling machine including bottle-sealing means, a liquid inlet passage for the bottle, a source of gaseous pressure, pressure connections froml the source to the bottlesealing means and the liquid inlet passage, and means for breaking said connections.

12. A filling machine including bottle-sealing means, ak liquid inlet. passage for the bottle, a source of gaseous pressure, pressure connections from the source to the bottlesealing means andv the liquid inlet passage, and means controlled by thel bottles for open-A ingsaid connections, whereby the connection is maintained only when a bottle is in the machine. f

13. A filling machine including bottle-sealing means, a liquid inlet passage for the bottle,

a source of gaseous pressure, pressure con-k nections from the source to the bottle-sealing means and the liquid inlet passage, means for breaking said connections, and means for maintaining the pressure in excess of a predetermined minimum in the pressure chamber.

14. A filling machine including bottle-sealing means, a liquid inlet passage for the bottle, a source of gaseous pressure, pressure connections from the source to the bottlesealing means anw.,` the liquid inlet passage,

sealing means and the kliquid inlet passage,.

ineansfor breaking saidv connections, means maintaining a pressure in excess of a predetermined minimum and means preventing the accumulation of' pressurein excess` of a predetermined maximum. 1

16. A filling machine including bottle-sealing means, a liquid inlet passage for the bottle,'a source of gaseous pressure, pressure connections from the source to the bottle- Y sealing means and theV liquid inletV passage, whereby gaseouspressure may besupplied to the interior of the bottle and to the bottlesealing means, the pressure connection between the source and the liquid inlet passage' permitting free travel of gaseous fluid from the bottle back to the source, meansk for breaking the connections, and means for releasing a portion of the gaseous fluid.

ing means, a liquid inlet. passage for the bottle, a source of' gaseous pressure, pressure connections from` the source to the bottlee sealing means and the liquid inlet passage, whereby gaseous pressure may be supplied to the interior of the bottle and to the bottlesealing means, the pressure connection between the source and the liquid inlet passage permitting free travel of gaseous fluid` from the bottle back to the source .a valve for establishing or breaking the connection upon opening and closing thereof, and means for releasing a portion of the gaseous fluid, the valveseating in such manner that pressure in the chamber urges the -valve against its seat, whereby the Valve is effective for maintaining the chamber under pressure after the releasing means has acted. p

18. A bottle-filling machine including a movable filling head, whose filling lposition 17. A filling machine including bottle-sealv is determined by the bottle being filled, and

having la pressure-operatedv sealing means, a source of gaseous pressure, pressure connections between the pressure source and the filling head and between the source and the sealing means, and means controlled by the.

sealing means, means controlled by the movement of the head for maintaining or breaksealing means, means controlled by the' movement of the head formaintaining or breaking saidpressure connections, and means for maintaining tbepressure in said chamber between defnitelimits.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set ourliands.

PATnreK' w.` sHiELns.` Y WALTER `J.l BLENKo, 

